Percussion-fuse.



(No. 806,859. PATENTED DEC. 12, 1905.

' H. WILSON (is A. R

PERCUSSION FUSE.

APYLIOATION FILED MAILZB, 1905.

UNITED arana HARRY WILSON AND ARTHUR H. CHASE, OF WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, ASSIGNORS, BY DIRECT AND MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, TO THE UNITED STATES ORDNANCE COMPANY, OF WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, A CORPORATION OF VIRGINIA.

psaoussiowsuse.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 12, 1905.

Application filed March 28, 1905. Serial No. 252,574.

1'0 all whrmz, at may concern.-

Be it known that we, HARRY IVrLsoN and ARTHUR H. CHASE, citizens of the United States, residing at Washington, in the District of Columbia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Percussion-Fuses, of which the following is a specification.

Our invention relates to that class of fuses for explosive projectiles in which-the percussion element is released only by centrifugal force, such as is due to the rotation of the projectilein flight when fired from a rifled gun.

The object of our invention is to simplify and improve the structure and operation of such fuses to insure greater safety in handling the projectiles and certainty in exploding the shell after it strikes the target.

Another object of our invention is to provide improved means for preventing communication from the primer tothe magazine of the fuse until immediately preceding the detonation of theprimer by the percussion element whereby explosion of the projectile is prevented, even though premature explosion of the primer takes place from causes other than its detonation by the percussion element of the fuse.

With the above and other objects in view the invention censists in the details of construction and in the arrangement and combination of parts to be hereinafter more fully set forth and claimed.

For a better understandingof the invention reference will be had to. the accompanying drawings, wherein like characters denote corresponding parts in the several views, and in which Figure 1 is a longitudinal section of our improved fuse, showing the various parts in their inactive position; Fig. 2, a similar view showing various parts in position assumed upon initial movement of the percussion-hammer.

after retardation of the projectile; Fig. 3, a similar view showing various partsin position assumed after complete movement of the percussion-hammer upon impact of the projectile; Fig. 4:, a detail plan view of the percussion-hammer shown in Figs. 1, 2, and 3;.

Fig. 5, an end view of same looking from the rear; Fig. 6, a detail view, partly in section, showingthe engagement between the driving- .pihs of the tiring-hammer, the sleeve 1), and

by a suitable disk Y. and the space between I the plug and the disk is filled with powder to form the magazine of the fuse.

The firing-hammer of our fuse is comprised of the segments C C, provided with registering apertures C to receive the body of a bolt (1*, which is provided with the enlarged ends O O. Springs U are interposed between the enlarged ends O' C of the bolt and the'shoulders C C in the apertures C and C whereby the segments C O are normally pressed together. The forward ends of the segments (1 O are provided with the longitudinally-extending flanges C O, which form a centrifugally-released locking means adapted to normally engage the primer-plug B and lock the firing-hammer against forward movement. A transverse projection O on the rear end of the segment C rests in acut-away portion 0 in the segment O, and a transverse projection O on the forward end of the segment G covers the forward end of the segment C. By this construction any longitudinal .movement of the segments CO with relation to each other and consequent strain on the bolt C is prevented. The projection G carries the firing-point O, which in conjunction with the segments C C forms the tiring-hammer or primer-exploding means. The firinghammer is loosely mounted in the sleeve D, which is arranged loosely in the chamber of the fuse-stock, so as to move freely therein. The'firing-hammer is held centrally in the sleeve by the bolt (3*, which is of a length equal. to' the inner diameter of the sleeve. To

assist thesegments O C to immediately receive the'infiuence of centrifugal force due to theispinning'of the shell, we provide the seg-v ments O 07 with the rearwardly-extending' driving-pins (J C, respectively, which project through the apertures D D in the sleeve and into. cylindrical recesses A A in the rear wall 7 I of the chamber of the fuse-stock. The apertures D D and the recesses A A are of a size sufiicient to permit' a limited movement of the driving-pins G? C therein. It will be obvious that were the segments 0 G mounted' without engagement with the fuse-stock they would tend to remain at rest independent of the rotation of the shell and together with the flanges C and C would fail to move transversely with the desired promptness. By the construction shown, however, the rotation of the shell will beimparted at once to the segments C Cf and flangesC and C and the coaction arising from the engagement between the cylindrical 'walls of the recesses A A and the driving-pins G" and C as a result of the tendency of the segments to remain at rest will aid, said segments and the flanges carried thereby in their transverse movement to eflect the unlocking of the primer-exploding means. A ball 7 C is seated in oppositely disposed registering pockets C and C in the segments C'G,'respectively, said pockets being situated 'ofli' the longitudinal axis of the fuse, whereby the ball is adapted to move outwardly under theinfluence of centrifugal. force'during the spinning of the shell and lock the segments in their expanded or armed position. The plug B is provided centrally with an inwardly-extending projection B, in which is seated the primer B. The annular recess B formed betweenthe periphery of the projection B and the cylindrical wall of the fuse chamber, receives the flanges C Q upon impact of the firing-hammer after discharge-of 'the projectilefrom the gun and permits the explosion of the primer .by the firing-point C", which is moved centrally of the primer by the transverse movement of the segment 0. A channel'B, leading from the primer to the magazine of the fuse, passes longitudinally through the plug B and is'interrupted by a transverse recess B in said plug. A valve B is mounted in the recess B ,capable of limited movement therein. The outer end of the valve is provided with the conical surface B, and the inner end is formed with a pocket B to serve as a seat for ue end of the spring B The other end ofsaid spring bears against the closed end of the recess. To hold the valve B in the recess B, we provide a longitudinally-' movable piston'formed with an enlarged head B, seated in a recess B at right angles to the" -B' and lies partly in a groove in'said projection and partly beyond the periphery of the projection, whereby forward movement of the firing-hammer in its armed position will cause the piston to move forward. Said for- -ward movement of the piston and the resulting' coactionbetween the conical surf s B and B causes the valve B to move inwardly of the recess B. and compress the spring B B in the interrupted portion of the channel B. I A channel B is provided transversely of I the valve B and is adapted to ali ne with the channel B when the valveB has 'moved inwardly, so that the extreme outer end of the valve B registers with thecylindrical surface of the head B of .the piston. (See 'Fig. 2.) The relative movement between the'piston and the valve is so proportioned that the channel B will aline with the channel B immediately preceding the penetration of the primer by The force of, the spring B" 1 the firing-point. under normal conditions is'suificient to prevent by the engagement of the flangeC with the stem B of thepiston any tendency of the firinghammer to creep during flight of the projectile, The valve B is held against turning in the recess B in any suitable. way, as by means of the pin B projecting into a groove B", as shown in Figs. 1, 2, and 3.- For convenience of assembling the'piston in operative position we provide an aperture in the plug B in alinement with the recess Bhand after the piston is'mounted in operative position close theap-' erture by means of the threadednut B.

' To delay the explosion of the magazine of the fuse, a train of slow-burning powder is filled in the channel B whereby the passage of the flame from the primer through the channel B to the magazine is retarded.

The operation and advantages of our invention will be atonce apparent from the foregoing description; bnt we desire it understood that various changes inlthe construction, combination, and arrangement of parts might be,

made which could be used without departing leading from said seat to'the said chambema IIo valve closing said channel and means whereby said valve is shifted by impact of the projectile after discharge.

3. In a percussion-fuse, a seat for a primer, meansfor exploding the primer upon impact of the projectile, a channelleading from the primer-seatto the shell charge, a valve closing said channel and means whereby said valve is shifted by impact of the projectile after discharge.

4. In a percussion-fuse, the combination with a primer -seat and primer -exploding means, of a channel extending forward from the primer-seat to the shell charge, a' valve closing said channel and arranged to be shifted by impact of the projectile after discharge.

In a percussionfuse, a seat for a primer. a firing-hammer, means for holding the firinghammer inactive, a valve leading from the primer-seat to the shell charge, a valve closing said channel and means whereby said valve is shifted by impact of the projectile afterdischarge. L

6. In a percussion-fuse, a primer-seat, a channel leading from said seat 'to the shell charge, a valve'closing said channel, a second "seat, primer-exploding means, a channel leadchannel in said valve normally out of alinement with the first-named channel and means whereby the valve ,is shifted by impact of the projectile after discharge and the channel of the valve alined with the channel leading from the primer-seat. In a percussion-fuse, channel leading from the shell charge, a valve closing said channel, a second channel in said valve normally out of alinement with the first-named channel and means actuated by impact of the projectile to aline the valve-channel with the channel leading from the primer-sect.

8. In a percussion-fused. primer-seat, means for explodingQthe primer upon impact of the projectile, achannel leading from the primerseat to the shell cha'rge, a valve closing said channel, a secon channel in said valve normally out of alinement with thegllirst-named channel and means actuated by impact of the projectile to aline the valve-channel with the channel leading from the primer-seat.

9. In a percussion-fuse, a primer, a primera primer-seat, a

ing from the primerseat to the shell charge, a valve closing saidchannel, a second chan me] in the valve housinga powder-train of slow explosive normally first-named channel and means actuated by impact of the projectile to aline the valvechannel with the channel leading from the primer-seat.

10. In a percussion-fuse, aseat for a primer,

primer-seat to the out of alinement with the a channel leading from said seat to the shell charge, a valve closing said channel and means whereby said valve is shifted after discharge independent of the rotation of the projectile.

11. Ina percussion-fuse, the combination of a casing, a primer, primer-exploding means, locking means normally holding the primerexploding means inactive and adapted to be unlocked by the action of centrifugal force and means operating independent of the action of centrifugal force for imparting the initial unlocking movement to the locking means. 1

12. In a percussion-fuse, the combination of a casing, a primer, primer-exploding means,

locking means loosely mounted in the casingv normally holding the primer-exploding means inactive and adapted to be unlocked by the action of centrifugal force and means operating independent of the action of centrifugal force for" "imparting the initial unlocking movement to thelocking means.

13. In a percussion-fuse, the combination of a casing, a primer, primer-exploding means, locking means normally holding theprimerexploding means inactive and adapted to be unlocked by the action of centrifugal force and means interposed between the locking means and the casing operating independent of the action of centrifugal force for imparting the initial unlocking movement to the locking means.

14. In a percussion-fuse, the combination of acasing, a primer, primer-exploding means,

locking 'meansloosely mounted in the casing normally holding the primer-exploding means inactive and unlocked by the action of centrifugal force and additional means loosely contacting with said casing, but adapted to positively engage the same and thereby immediately impart to the locking means the full rotation of the shell.

In testimony whereof we aflix our signatures in presence of two witnesses.

HARRY WILSON. ARTHUR H. CHASE. 

